Engineering Conundrum
I - History
If Subroto Mukerjee,
Jumbo Majumdar and Harjinder Singh had to start a new Air Force to win wars in
this hi-tech world today, what would they think about the infrastructure, work
force and the command & control needs?
Air Force, unlike an airline, requires industrial muscle to keep
external interference at bay. The need for in-house engineering since
independence has therefore been vital; especially because of the weak indigenous
defence industry. A significant contribution has been made by Air Force
engineers. However, there have been mixed organisational approaches shifting
between admiration and disregard towards the engineering functions. Many don’t understand
that engineering, well beyond the limited field maintenance and spares
procurement, is a core function of the Air Force – its importance cannot be
diluted. Moreover, in the technological world of today, engineering operations
and planning assume profound significance.
A historical perspective would be useful to
relate to the engineering tale beginning with the birth of IAF on 8th
October 1932.
The British policy of raw material from India returning back as ‘Made in
England’ products had ensured that Indian
industrial capability was insignificant before Independence. Only a few
industrial houses were engaged in manufacturing of end products. India had only
a few engineering colleges before 1932. A majority of them imparted diploma
level of education in Civil Engineering, considered adequate for Indians to
assist British engineers.
The lack of indigenous engineering acumen, especially in the fledgling
field of aviation, coupled with the British strategic need for dominance must
have been a decisive factor in establishing no more than field level aviation
maintenance in India. It was therefore natural that at its birth the IAF
inducted only technicians without an engineering officer cadre.
As the story goes, one among the first batch of officers
couldn’t complete flying training. Consequently, he was inducted as the first
officer in the Equipment branch to look after the stores/ purchase functions
(all inventories came from England).
“Wish you had continued to be the baby that I
could cuddle”
- Anonymous mother
- Anonymous mother
What a wonderful baby, the IAF – one squadron (one flight) with 4
aircraft, 5 young pilots and 29 technicians, hand held by a young British
Commanding Officer. The first lot of officers was commissioned on 08 Oct 1932.
As the Air Force grew steadily, many more pilots, a few more Eqpt officers and
Admin & Staff Duty officers were commissioned. However, it took the Air
Force 10 years before the first Tech officer was commissioned on 03 Sep 1942.
‘Birth of An Air Force’, written long ago by Air Cmde AL Saigal
and ‘Spitfire Singh’, written recently in a more engaging style by Mike Edwards
MBE are both biographies of AVM Harjinder Singh. Stories of this
first technician and engineer of the Indian Air Force tell us that the British
officers were not prepared to accept that Indians could be technically trained
to maintain their own machines. It was okay for an Indian to be a pilot, but,
an Indian wouldn’t be accepted as an engineer meddling with British aeroplanes.
This explains why it took so long for the engineering infrastructure to emerge
followed by an officers’ cadre to manage it.
“The secretary of State for India seemed
willing to remember the exploits of a few Indians who had served as pilots with
great distinction in the World War I . . . but he wasn’t for having Indians
doing anything technical or mechanical with the aircraft.”
- “Spitfire Singh” by Mike Edwards
The Indian Air Force was fortunate that in response to the
requirement of ‘D’ Class apprentices from Railways, an altogether different set
of young men driven by passion for a new India turned up to join at the lowest
level as Hawai Sepoys. Some of them like Harjinder Singh had completed full
five years of engineering studies. It is unbelievable that young Harjinder, who
was paid a stipend of Rs 90 per month in his fifth year of college and had a
job offer of Rs 225 per month, joined IAF starting at
Rs 35 per month.
Rs 35 per month.
“If all Indians wanted to be officers, there
would not be anyone left to serve in the ranks. Do you want British airmen to
come and start an Indian Air Force? If so you are dreaming.”
- Birth of an Air Force, Quote by W.O. HE Newing
(Instructor)
A classic example of how a late start can turn favourable -
Harjinder Singh and his colleagues were able to institute a culture of hands-on
work, which would not have been possible otherwise. It is inspiring to read
that Harjinder Singh, on the request of Jumbo Majumdar turned down an offer
for commission in RAF in 1939. Three years later, he accepted commission in
the IAF and became its first engineering officer.
Harjinder Singh quickly rose to be a Group Captain, commanding
Air Force Station Kanpur. He led many an initiative in engineering as well as
administrative fields. Harjinder Singh and Kanpur have been common in stories
of extraordinary achievements like recovering Liberators from the wrecks and
later bringing IAF to the jet age with Vampires.
The Air Force formed its Maintenance Command at Kanpur in 1955
to bring a large number of repair depots, workshops, maintenance units and
supply points under one functional system. Under Harjinder Singh’s command at
Kanpur, an Aircraft Manufacturing Depot (AMD) was established, which undertook
manufacture of Avro aircraft ahead of HAL. AMD also designed and developed two
prototypes Kanpur-I and Kanpur-II. The Air Force, however, then decided to
close down design and manufacture of aircraft to align with the national
objectives.
For an unfathomable reason, the Air Force forgot about Harjinder
Singh after his retirement. Having been inducted into the Air Force in early
70s, I have been surprised that we never heard of Harjinder Singh from the
senior leadership of the Air Force. In the Officers’ Mess at Nagpur, I chanced
upon his biography, ‘’Birth of Air Force’’, when I was posted at Maintenance
Command nearly at the end of my career in the Air Force. I have been amazed to meet
air warriors posted at Chakeri Kanpur and yet ignorant about Harjinder Singh’s
contribution - his backyard, Kanpur had risen to the heights of engineering
excellence to become synonymous with the muscle of Indian Air Force.
The story of Engineering in IAF ran parallel with Harjinder
Singh’s life till his retirement in 1963 as the first AOC-in-C of Maintenance
Command. In six decades after Harjinder Singh, no one has dominated the Air
Force engineering arena like him.
Most will recall Air Mshl SS Ramdas for inspiring successive
generations of air warriors from all branches of IAF in ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s. He
chose the option to laterally move as CMD of Indian Airlines, but, not before
making the greatest impact on Air Force engineering since Harjinder Singh. He
left prematurely because he had to wait in a long queue before reaching the
apex level with little time left thereafter – unfortunately the Air Chief who
introduced merit along with seniority in the queue system came in a decade too
late.
The Air Force has seen unprecedented growth and absorption of
new technology in the last 25 years. We have crossed many technological
frontiers, especially in the fields of industrial engineering, avionics,
software, communication and networking. The world, and the Air Force by
consequence, has changed so much that engineering is now a part of life and not
an appendage.
Within the Air Force, however, the last two decades have seen a
number of disconcerting debates questioning the need for an elaborate
engineering infrastructure. Some consider outsourcing a panacea for all
problems concerning engineering requirements. The vastness of the essential engineering
functions for a globally potent Air Force unfortunately gets obscured by
labelling the engineering work force as ‘maintenance men’.
Harjinder Singh wouldn’t know that the adopted name for his
profession, ‘Maintenance’ would chain down successive generations.
The Air Force policy of inducting engineers into flying training
- beginning with the dynamic Harjinder Singh - also benefitted Ramdas and a few
others. Since they appreciated flying as much as engineering, they had never to
hear what Aspy Engineer (later the Air Chief) had once said. “Harjinder could
never appreciate risks and responsibilities of a flying man: If you could fly
you would understand”, said Aspy Engineer before Harjinder started flying. This
wonderful policy was, however, abolished for inexplicable reasons. Those
equipped with engineering as well as flying acumen had perhaps begun to acquire
a professional stature well beyond that of a submissive maintenance man.
…….To
be continued
References:-
1. Birth of An Air Force – The Memoirs of Air Vice Marshal Harjinder Singh, edited by Air Cmde AL Saigal - Palit and Palit Publishers (1977).
2. Spitfire Singh by Mike Edwards MBE - Bloomsburry Publishing India Pvt. Ltd. (2016).
Great insight into our past Sir.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Sir. Keep writing. Eagerly waiting for the next one. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteBrilliant Sir. Keep writing. Eagerly waiting for the next one. Very informative.
ReplyDeleteVery engaging style Promod!Really relevant historical underpinning to our present and lessons for future of this great force.
ReplyDeleteVery well written Sir.....
ReplyDeleteSurprisingly, not many even amongst Engineering Branch are aware of AVM Harjinder's great contribution ...
Sir, Nice historical insight.
ReplyDeleteI read the book by Mike Edwards last month. What an incredible journey of AVM Harjinder Singh?
ReplyDeleteThe step-motherly treatment of engineers is not only in the Air Force. It exists in all organisations in India which have both operations and engineering components. For example, in any factory engaged in production, even engineers who are directly responsible for production treat other engineers involved in maintaining the plant machinery with disdain. Perhaps this is human nature or is it because those who are involved in operations (production) are directly accountable for the results and hence regard themselves as naturally superior.
The culture of mutual professional respect is sadly yet to take root in our country. One typical example is the well known behaviour of bureaucrats towards technocrats. In my view, there is no easy answer or solution to this conundrum but organisations which have a mature and visionary leadership are better equipped to make every person in the organisation get due recognition.
Thanks Pramod for starting this stimulating discussion.
I think it is HR which has to play a major role to reap the benefits from technocrats. Pl keep writing, waiting for next link.
ReplyDeleteVery well written. Coming to know about insight of maintenance branch inception.
ReplyDeleteGreat historical insight to the birth of "Engineering Branch" into the Indian Air Force and AVM Harjinder Singh's contribution towards it. Sir, I had heard stories about "Harjinder Singh Commission" in our early days in the IAF but did not know the details. This article inspires me to read both the biographies on AVM Harjinder Singh. Hope, I am lucky enough to find it.
ReplyDeleteWell written article.
ReplyDeleteWell done sir.
ReplyDeleteVery well written sir. Thnx for exposing the intricate details of IAF-Sudhir
ReplyDeleteWell written sir. Learnt quite a few things about our history. Why not forward this to AFTC with a suggestion to cover history of maintenance branch and it's proud legacy as a part of its curriculum there..... Also agree with AVM Ranganath 's comments. Eagerly waiting for next part....
ReplyDeleteA very engrossing article sir. Never knew about these facets of our history. Now I certainly want to read the reference books too. I can appreciate the legacy of Harjinder Singh as I had the privilege of being part of AFS Kanpur, the Mecca and Medina of an AE officer, specially, AE(M) officer. I agree with AVM Ranganath's views.However, in any organisation, the people directly contributing towards the goal of the organisation will have the upper hand. Its natural. Will be eagerly waiting for the next edition!!
ReplyDeleteExcellent insight into our Maintenance branch especially pre independence era. Harjinder's great contribution to the Engineering branch is well documented in your blog sir. Some of the historical details mentioned are not commonly known to general public. As rightly suggested by Samir above this can be part of history of Maintenance branch at AFTC. AVM Ranganath's comments are very appropriate for the occasion. Thanks for sharing the intricate details of Engineering Conundrums. Eagerly waiting for the next part.
ReplyDeleteSir
ReplyDeleteReal great insight on the Birth of Engineering in the IAF
As Ranganath Sir has put it engineering functions are generally treated as secondary functions in every organisation in our country
Hence the Management cadre takes charge
This definitely reduces the potency of an organisation as every link in a chain is important and the chain is only as good as its weakest link so a mature organisation is one which ensures every organisational function in its domain prospers to synergise and achieve the orgamisation aim
Sir
Waiting for the next in the series
It is wonderful and engrossing article that gave us the insight into the birth of Maintenance team and the great contribution by unsung hero AVM Harjinder Singh about whom at least I was ignorant till I read your article. Though the Engineering Branch came a long way in terms of its impeccable record In ensuring Airworthiness of our aircraft’s at all times it still lags behind in terms of recognition its Men in Uniform richly deserve. Hope in days to come this will be addressed. Very well narrated with facts and figures which mad the article really interesting. Waiting eagerly for the sequel to come.
ReplyDeleteNunna Ramesh
Nice going Sir - a rock solid foundation essential for an effective knock! ��
ReplyDeleteI agree that in most organisations the Engineering Group is deemed as Support and *not "Policy Drivers/ Makers" or "Decision Drivers or Makers"*
ReplyDeleteBut then that is how institutionalised systems were established then.
Also, if one is professionally competent, environmentally alive to responsibilities and empowerment conscious - No power or individual can treat that person with disdain or look down upon such a colleague unless a chance is given otherwise.
The solution has been to put across your point of view with strength of conviction, logic, professionalism and integrity.
*Any behaviour otherwise or display of Meekness and Weakness will always get you the deserved unpalatable response which one has to gulp*.
But then, Sir, as you are so rightly bringing out - "With changing times, revolutionary technological advancements, development of neo-modern operational philosophies and experience (SWOT Analyses of existing structures) gained over the years - there is a need for systemic overhaul of the established institutional practices for efficient achievement of our common goal.
JRW
Dear Sir,
ReplyDeleteJaihind,
Again a "Sixer"....
Few great men do leave their imprints which are taken as benchmarks. In real life I find there is nothing "individualistic" it has to be a collective approach to achieve a goal...so in an organisation there is a core and a support staff, akin to a family, a bread earner and a house wife or a house man (nowadays popular). Bread earner is given more importance than the house wife / man. WE tend to give more importance and commend a leader who achieved an activity but not to a team which was instrumental for the achievement under the leader's able guidance. Here the differences of flyer/engineer / admin etc should not be felt as each function is equally important and interdependent that if one fails to function then the core collapses. The concept of erstwhile GDP though good the prime functionary be it flying or engineering may at-times get overshadowed. Today we have engineers inducted as pilots, has there been any difference in their interactions with sole maintenance engineers...they may say "I too know engineering so do as I say"...this may lead to more complexes if not rightly visualised and clipped at the bud.
I feel the conundrum of acceptance of professional equality and mutual respect irrespective of branches needs to be solved for a potent force to be effective. This acceptance has been selective depending on frequency match between individuals and also the instant likes and dislikes..
Regards
Manoj
Thought provoking write up. The oft quoted saying that God helps those who help themselves applies very much to the engineering branch too.
ReplyDeleteTo begin with we need to start educating the entrants in AFTC about history and impact of engineering functions in IAF. We need to take pride in what we have done and what we do on ongoing basis.
We also need to create better understanding of various functionalities as against divisions Aircraft vs Communicatons vs radars vs missiles and so on. Each function has its role and need be appreciated as such.
Once we get out of silos that we put ourselves in, we are likely to come up with more out of box solutions.
Strengthening of Cross functional work experience as part of grooming for senior appointments would go a long way in creating senior cader that has wholesum view of engineering functions.
Alternatively considering complexities of modern equipment , may be its time for career engineering officers vs technical officers .. One responsible for managing the engineering set up while other responsible for brass tack functions of managing equipment.
I have heard of an informal group of US Predidents where they incumbent consults with ex Presidents in times of need .. I am not sure if IAF such a mechanism for senior engineering brass.
Hi Atta, what a surprise to see your blog (the link sent to me by Wg. Cdr. Mudaliar, 2AEC). I had met you (from 4AEC) as a dashing, always smiling, rather quiet cricketer as part of Air Force Cricket team during the Inter Services Cricket championship at New Delhi in early 1980s. I was the sports sec, unusual post for a technical chap. But what I wanted to share is the experience under AM Ramdas, some of which is not very flattering. How he backed out on a crucial'buy Mi8 spares cheap' from a different source other than Russian (then Soviet Union) and secondly as SMSO, instructed anyone going on inspection/visit under his Western command without his permission, thus elliminating the element of surprise. He was a great tech GD (Engineer cum pilot). I WILL ELABORATE LATER ON. Wg. Cdr. JP (1AEC)
ReplyDeleteAb kuch kahoon to kahengey bolta hai saala.sir, achaa lagtaa hai padkar hameshaa ki tarah.gyaan, labz, style aur zaati muhabbat khub dekhney ko milta hai.intezaar karoongaa besabri sey baaki ka itihaas.sar aankhon par.🌿
ReplyDeleteSir good insight into history.
ReplyDelete